Match box construction



- April 10, 1934.

J. H. KOHLER MATCH BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 1932 Fatented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITE STA E T @FFME 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in match box construction and has particular relationto a construction which may be embodied in the ordinary pocket-size boxes for safety matches.

Boxes of matches of this type are commonly used both to be carried in the users pocket and to be placed on supports on ash trays and the like. It is well known that when a box of this type, embodying an open-topped box and an open-ended cover sliding thereover, is placed on. an ash tray support or the like, with the box portion projecting a short distance out of the cover, it is very difficult to remove the matches because they cannot be readily grasped within the small exposed opening at the top of the box. This difficulty is occasioned by reason of the fact that the wall of the box at the projecting end covers the space and makes the matches very inaccessible. In order to overcome this difiiculty, the end wall of the box is often broken away, but this is rather diflicult to do and requires a considerable amount of time when a large number of boxes are to be prepared for use, such as in hotels, restaurants, and other public places. Moreover, this operation renders the box unsuitable for subsequent pocket use.

-*The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved match box construction in which the above mentioned difficulties are eliminated by making one end wall of the box separate from the other portions thereof and mounting said end wall for bodily movement out of its normal positionrto open the exposed end of the box, so that the matches may be readily removed, as when the box is placed upon a support or the like, while retaining said end wall in association with the remainder of the box so that it may be replaced and retained in its normal position to render the box suitable for subsequent pocket use or the like, if desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from a consideration of the descrip tion appearing hereinafter, taken in conjunction with l the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a match box constructed according to the present invention in place upon an ordinary ash tray support, the upper end wall of the box being moved out of closing relation to that end of the box to render the matches readily accessible;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the box shown in Fig. 1, with the parts in the same rela tive positions as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View showing the box in side elevation and the cover in section, with the latter in normal closing relation to the box;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the box with the cover in closed relation thereto shown in section; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a member forming a movable end wall for the box.

The match box shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing is of the conventional design except for the application cf the present invention thereto, the boxitself being of the open-topped variety and the cover being open ended and adapted to slide over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls of the latter. The box proper comprises a bottom 11, side walls 12, 12, an end wall 13 secured to the bottom and side walls in the usual manner, and a movable end wall 14, and is adapted to be closed by the conventional openended sliding cover 15. Both the box and the cover may be made of thin wood, covered and reinforced with paper adhesively secured to the walls, or of cardboard, both of these types of construction being well known and the present invention being equally applicable to the two types.

i In Fig. 1 a match box or the type referred to is shown in place on a support 16a of an ash tray 16 of conventional design. The sliding cover of the box is placed over the support 16a, which pushes the box proper up to such a position that its upper end projects a short'distance above the upper end of the cover. The matches 1'7 are rendered accessible, according to this invention, by so constructing the box that its upper end wall 14 may be moved out of closing relation to the corresponding end of the box, as to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This operation is made possible according to the preferred embodiment of the invention by making the movable end wall 14 separate from the remaining portions of the box and mounting said movable end wall on other portions of the box for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall.

In order to provide such a mounting for the.

movable end wall, the latter is provided with inbox side walls 12, 12 in parallel and spaced relation to the side members 18, 18.

The short portions of the tabs l9, 19 extending through the holes 20, 20 form trunnions for supporting the end wall 14 and side members 18, 18, whereby said end wall and side members may be swung bodily about a pivotal axis extending between the holes 20, 20 in the opposite side walls of the box. Fhis axis being displaced from the plane of the end wall 14, the movement of this end wall is of a bodily swinging nature, as distinguished from the type of pivotal movement in which the axis lies in the plane of the end wall.

The length of the side members 18, 18 is so related to the spacing of the holes 20, 20 from the adjacent ends of the box side walls 12, 12 that the movable end wall 14 lies close to the ends of said side walls and the bottom 11 when when it occupies its normal closing relation to thecorresponding end of the box, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This arrangement is of further advantage in that there is a certain amount of frictional engagement between the-movable end wall and the end of the bottom 11, as well as with the adjacent portions of the side walls 12, 12, whereby the movements of said movable end wall are restrained to some-extent. A similar effect is also preferably obtained by pressing the tabs 19, 19 into firm engagement with the box side walls 12, 12 so that they coast with the side members 18,18 to exert a moderately tight clamping action on said side walls. This frictional arrangement results in the movable end wall being retained in any position to which it is moved and prevents accidental movement of said movable end wall.

It will be observed that the side members 18, 18 are of substantially the same width as the box side walls 12, 12 and that this dimension is also substantially the same as the corresponding inside dimension of the cover member 15. Therefore, when the cover is slid all the way onto the box to its normal closing position, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the movable end wall 14 cannot be moved out of closing relation to the corresponding end of the box. Thus, when the box is in pocket use or the like, there is no possibility of the movable end wall being accidentally displaced and allowing the matches to fall out of the box.

When the box is to be placed upon a support or the like, as shown in Fig. 1, the box proper is necessarily pushed part way out of the cover and this movement renders the movable end wall 14 free to be moved to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen, therefore, that the construction disclosed is such as to render the box ideally adapted for both pocket use and use on ash trays and other supports, the matches being made readily accessible when the box is used in the latter manner by moving the end wall 14 out of closing relation to the corresponding end of the box. Since the movable end wall will remain in whatever position it is moved to, the box may be interchanged between these different classes of service as many times as desired.

The side members 18, 18 and tabs 19, 19 are preferably, although not necessarily, formed integrally with the end wall 14, and thin pliable sheet metal is a suitable and preferred material for making this integral member. Such material has the advantages of being easily formed into the desired shape and being very inexpensive, while at the same time forming a box end closure of ample rigidity. It is obvious, however, that various other materials may be used for making the closure member, either as an integrally formed member or as a composite member.

While only one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appending claims. For example, the pivotal or swinging mounting of the movable end wall with respect to other portions of the box may be achieved by various arrangements other than that specifically disclosed herein, and the parts may be made in various other sizes and shapes.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent, therefore, is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the'box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the ends walls' of said box being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall out of and back into closing relation to I.

the corresponding end of the box, each of said walls being and remaining continuous and complete in itself.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being separate from the remaining portions of said box and being pivotally mounted on other portions of said box for bodily swinging movement about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall out of and back into closing rela tion to the corresponding end of the box, each of said walls being and remaining continuous and complete in itself.

3. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable .over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls'of said box being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall out of and back into closing relation to the corresponding end of the box, and frictionally en gaging other portions of the box when so moved, whereby said end wall will remain in the position to which it is moved.

4. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall out of' and back into closing relation to the corresponding end of the box when the box is slid part way out of the cover, but being held against suchmovement by said cover when the latter is in normal closing position with respect to the box, each of said walls being and remaining continuous and complete in itself.

5. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being separate from the remaining portions of said box and having side members attached thereto and extending inwardly along the respective side walls of the box and terminating in tabs extending through holes in said side walls to provide a pivotal mounting for said end wall whereby the latter may be moved out of and back into closing relation to the corresponding end of the box, each of said walls being and remaining continuous and complete in itself.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being formed of sheet metal and having integrally formed side members attached thereto and extending inwardly along the respective side walls of the box and terminating in tabs extending through holes in said side walls to provide a pivotal mounting for said end wall whereby the latter may be moved out of and back into closing relation to the corresponding end of the box, each of said walls being and remaining continuous and complete in itself.

7. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, and an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being separate from the remaining portions of said box and having side members attached thereto and extending inwardly along the respective side walls of the box and terminating in tabs extending through holes in said side walls to provide a pivotal mounting for said end wall whereby the latter may be moved out of and back into closing relation to the corresponding end of the box, said tabs pressing against the inside surfaces of the side walls to coact with said side members in providing frictional contact with the box side walls whereby said end wall will remain in the position to which it is moved.

8. A device of the character described, comprising an open-topped box having a bottom and side and end walls, an open-ended cover slidable over the box in a direction perpendicular to the end walls thereof, one of the end walls of said box being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis displaced from the plane of said end wall out of and back into closing relation to thecorresponding end of the box, and means acting by friction to retain said end wall in) the position to which it is moved. Y

JOHN H. KOHLER. 

